Cognition and mood changes in pregnancy: timing and childhood maltreatment histories

Abstract

Pregnancy impacts nearly all bodily systems due to major physiological and anatomical challenges necessary for maintaining gestation, foetal development and parturition. Pregnancy-specific stress (i.e., fears about the baby´s health, impending birth, hospital care, the postpartum, and parenting) combined with pre-existing stressors (e.g., financial or relationship difficulties), may be exacerbated by work-related pressures.